re-part of the upper deck at a vessel's bows.

FORECASTLE-JOKES. Practical tricks played upon greenhorns.

FORECASTLE-MEN. Sailors who are stationed on the forecastle, and are
generally, or ought to be, prime seamen.

FORECASTLE-NETTINGS. _See_ HAMMOCK-NETTINGS.

FORECASTLE-RAIL. The rail extended on stanchions across the after-part
of the forecastle-deck in some ships.

FORE CAT-HARPINGS. _See_ CAT-HARPINGS.

FORE-COCKPIT. _See_ COCKPIT.

FORE-COURSE. The _fore-sail_ (which see).

FORE-DECK. That part from the fore-mast to the bows.

FORE-FINGER, OR INDEX-FINGER. The pointing finger, which was called
shoot-finger by the Anglo-Saxons, from its use in archery, and is now
the _trigger-finger_ from its duty in gunnery. (_See_ SHOOT-FINGER.)

FORE-FOOT. The foremost piece of the keel, or a timber which terminates
the keel at the forward extremity, and forms a rest for the stem's lower
end; it is connected by a scarph to the extremity of the keel, and the
other end of it, which is incurvated upwards into a sort of knee, is
attached to the lower end of the stem; it is also called a gripe. As the
lower arm of the fore-foot lies on the same level with the keel, so the
upper one coincides with the middle line of the stem; its breadth and
thickness therefore correspond with the dimensions of those pieces, and
the heel of the cut-water is scarphed to its upper end. Also, an
imaginary line of the ship's course or direction.

FORE-GANGER OF THE CHAIN BOWER CABLES. Is a length of 15 fathoms of
stouter chain, in consequence of greater wear and tear near the anchor,
and exposure to weather. Fore-ganger is also the short piece of rope
immediately connecting the line with the shank of the harpoon, when
spanned for killing.

FORE-GOER. The same as _fore-ganger_.

FORE-GRIPE. _See_ GRIPE.

FORE-GUY. A rope to the swinging-boom of the lower studding-sail.

FORE-HAMMER. The sledge-hammer which strikes the iron on the anvil
first, if it be heavy work, but the hand-hammer keeps time.

FORE-HOLD. The part of the hold before the fore hatchway.

FORE-HOODS. The foremost of the outside and inside planks of a vessel.

FORE-HOOKS. The same as _breast-hooks_ (which see).

FOREIGN. Of another country or society; a word used adjectively, being
joined with divers substantives in several senses.

FOREIGN-GOING. The ships bound on oceanic voyages, as distinguished from
home-traders and coasters.

FOREIGN JUDGMENT. _See_ JUDGMENT.